by Mike Ratliff
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; 29 for OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE. Hebrews 12:28-29 (LSB)
In my younger days when I was working on my undergraduate degree, I had a professor who used to work in a major manufacturing company in the US. He used his experiences there in analogies pertaining to the management topics we were studying. He used one of his former co-workers there as an example, a bad example, as he taught us how we should work together toward our common goals, et cetera. This fellow’s nickname at that company was ‘Yeah-but.’ He told us that it never failed that in meetings when someone had a solution to an issue or a concept of a better way to do things, this fellow would always interrupt and start his diatribe against it with the words, “Yeah, but…!” I had an encounter with a “religious yeah-but” several years ago here on this blog. I had written a post dealing with our Justification and this fellow’s response to it was, “Yeah, but what about those sins you have committed since God saved you?” It did not matter how I replied to this fellow, he was convinced that, yes he was saved by grace through faith, but it was his obedience, et cetera, that kept him there. If he sinned, he lost his salvation and had to be re-justified I suppose. Is this biblical?
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we boast in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we also boast in our afflictions, knowing that affliction brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not put to shame, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:1-5 (LSB)
1 Δικαιωθέντες οὖν ἐκ πίστεως εἰρήνην ἔχομεν πρὸς τὸν θεὸν διὰ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ 2 διʼ οὗ καὶ τὴν προσαγωγὴν ἐσχήκαμεν [τῇ πίστει] εἰς τὴν χάριν ταύτην ἐν ᾗ ἑστήκαμεν καὶ καυχώμεθα ἐπʼ ἐλπίδι τῆς δόξης τοῦ θεοῦ. 3 οὐ μόνον δέ, ἀλλὰ καὶ καυχώμεθα ἐν ταῖς θλίψεσιν, εἰδότες ὅτι ἡ θλῖψις ὑπομονὴν κατεργάζεται, 4 ἡ δὲ ὑπομονὴ δοκιμήν, ἡ δὲ δοκιμὴ ἐλπίδα. 5 ἡ δὲ ἐλπὶς οὐ καταισχύνει, ὅτι ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ θεοῦ ἐκκέχυται ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ἡμῶν διὰ πνεύματος ἁγίου τοῦ δοθέντος ἡμῖν.Romans 5:1-5 (NA28)
1 Having been justified, thererefore, by faith we have peace toward God through our Lord Jesus Christ 2 through whom also we have had access by faith into this grace in which we stand and we boast upon in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only this, but also we boast in the afflictions, knowing that the affliction patience works thoroughly, 4 and patience approval, and approval hope. (Romans 5:1-5 translated from the NA28 Greek text to English)
What brings us peace with God (ειρηνην εχωμεν προς τον θεον)? We have bee justified by faith (δικαιωθεντες ουν εκ πιστεως) through our Lord Jesus Christ (δια του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου). In v2 we see how this actually took place. It was through him (Christ) we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand… (δι ου και την προσαγωγην εσχηκαμεν [τη πιστει] εις την χαριν ταυτην εν η εστηκαμεν). The key to this justification in which we stand firm is that it came by faith, τη πιστει. In Ephesians 2:8 we read, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” Here is the Greek for v8, “τη γαρ χαριτι εστε σεσωσμενοι δια πιστεως και τουτο ουκ εξ υμων θεου το δωρον.” All in Christ are so because they were saved by grace (τη γαρ χαριτι) through faith (δια πιστεως). This saving faith is the conduit of our justification and it came to us by God’s grace. All who have been brought to this state of justification have peace with God (ειρηνην εχωμεν προς τον θεον).
What is this peace (ειρηνην, eirēnēn)? This peace denotes rest in contrast with strife. It is a state of untroubled, undisturbed well being. In this context, it is referring to God’s mercy towards those He has justified according to his grace. He has granted them deliverance and freedom from all the distresses that are experienced because of sin. This is not to say that our sin does not cause us grief, but that we who are in this state of justification are secure in our salvation because it is based on the righteousness of another, our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of this, we can glory in our afflictions that come because God is using them to purify us and build Christ’s character in us. The word used here telling us that we are justified is δικαιωθεντες. This is a legal term in which a person is declared righteous by a decree of some sort. Paul is telling us in v1 that because we have been declared righteous, then v1-11 is true for us as well. He gave us these truths in Romans 1-4 and is now giving us the implications of our justification by grace through faith. All in Christ are no longer under God’s wrath, but are now under His Grace. Instead of fearing God’s judgment when we sin, we have a joy in the midst of tribulation because of what God produces through it. We have assurance of God’s love and joy in Him.
6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man, though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only this, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. Romans 5:6-11 (LSB)
The LSB states this beautifully here. Our justification is entirely according to God’s grace. We did nothing to deserve it. We were ungodly and outside of His grace, we would be unregenerate and subject to His wrath. However, He loves us and sent Christ to bear our sins in His death on the Cross (Romans 3:25). Those in Christ have been justified by His blood and saved from the wrath of God. How then should we live my brethren?
We who have received Christ as Lord and Saviour by grace through faith are no longer “of this world.” Why then do so many who call themselves Christians live as friends “of this world?” Our role in the Kingdom is to love God, obey Him, and be beacons of light that God may use us to draw others out of the darkness to salvation. The goal of being a Christian is not to see how religious we can be. It is not to be good church members. It is to be disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ who have died to self and live for Him as we carry our crosses in self-denial. How’s that going for you?
Soli Deo Gloria!
Possessing the Treasure 